The world of journalism and education is mourning the loss of Colman McCarthy, a man whose life served as a living testament to the principles of pacifism and radial empathy. McCarthy, who spent decades as a prominent columnist for the Washington Post before transitioning into a full-time educator, passed away at the age of 87. Throughout his prolific career, he remained one of the few consistent voices in American media who dared to question the necessity of conflict and the structural violence embedded in modern society.
McCarthy joined the Washington Post in the late 1960s, a period defined by intense social upheaval and the Vietnam War. While many of his peers focused on the tactical maneuvers of politics and warfare, McCarthy took a different approach. He used his platform to highlight the plight of the marginalized, from the impoverished inhabitants of rural America to the victims of international military interventions. His columns were not merely reports on the news; they were philosophical inquiries into how a society might function if it prioritized peace over power.
His transition from the newsroom to the classroom was a natural evolution of his mission. Believing that the seeds of peace must be planted early, McCarthy began teaching courses on nonviolence at various institutions, including high schools and universities. He founded the Center for Teaching Peace, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping schools incorporate peace studies into their curricula. He often remarked that while every student is taught about the history of wars, almost none are taught about the history of peace movements or the successful implementation of nonviolent resistance.
In the classroom, McCarthy was known for his provocative and engaging style. He didn’t just lecture; he challenged his students to live out their values. He famously offered a standing grade of an ‘A’ to any student who would commit to a lifestyle of nonviolence, though he made it clear that the true test was not the grade, but the lifelong commitment to the cause. His syllabus featured the writings of figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Dorothy Day, and Martin Luther King Jr., ensuring that a new generation understood that peace was a rigorous intellectual and moral discipline rather than a passive sentiment.
Colman McCarthy’s influence extended far beyond the Beltway. His books and essays served as foundational texts for activists across the globe. He was a vegetarian and a staunch advocate for animal rights long before such positions were mainstream, viewing the mistreatment of animals as another facet of the violence he sought to eradicate. He lived simply, often commuting to his various teaching assignments by bicycle, embodying the Gandhian principle of being the change he wished to see in the world.
Colleagues remember him as a man of immense integrity who never shied away from uncomfortable truths. Even when his views were unpopular, particularly during times of nationalistic fervor, he remained steadfast in his conviction that violence only begets more violence. He was a critic of the prison-industrial complex and a vocal opponent of the death penalty, always arguing for restorative justice over punitive measures. To McCarthy, every human life held inherent dignity that no state or individual had the right to violate.
As news of his passing spreads, former students and readers are sharing stories of how McCarthy changed the trajectory of their lives. Many credit him with opening their eyes to a world where conflict resolution does not require a weapon. His legacy lives on through the thousands of individuals he mentored and the institutional changes he sparked in the field of peace education. In a time when global tensions remain high, the lessons McCarthy taught feel more relevant than ever. He proved that the pen, when guided by a heart for peace, is indeed mightier than the sword.
